This is my proposal for study to generate electricity from wind in the Socotra Island in the Arabian sea ( Republic of Yemen). I am looking for financial support for this project. I am asking if anyone can possibly help me in this endeavor and support the completion of this project. I would be very grateful to them.

Thanks with best regards

Dr. Mohammed Bawadi [ member of WWEA]
Hadhramout University
Al- Mukalla, Republic of Yemen
tel:++967-777717561
E-mail: mhbawadi@yahoo.com

Proposal

1. Introduction:
Socotra archipelago is located in the Arabian Sea, south of Arabian Peninsula, Republic of Yemen, with the coordinates (12030 70N and 53048 21E). The length of the island is about 135 km from east to west, and its width is about 42 km from south to north, with a total area of 3650 km2. Socotra is exposed to strong winds, mainly southwesterly direction and the speed gradually increases by late May and early June reaching its peak in June-July, and a speed of more than 25 m/s until August, then begins to decline gradually to reach in early October to lesser speeds then turning to northeasterly direction with the rate wind speed of 6 m/s. Most of the winds during summer time in Socotra Island are southwesterly monsoon [1].

Figure 1. Socotra island

Socotra archipelago consists of four islands, where Socotra is the largest and the other three are relatively small islets located in the Indian Ocean and lie off some 240 km (150 miles) east of the Horn of Africa and 380 km (240 miles) south of the Arabian Peninsula [1 ]. The island is isolated and through the process of speciation, a third of its plant life is considered to be endemic. It has been described as the most alien-looking site on Earth. The main island has three geographical terrains: the narrow coastal plains, a limestone plateau permeated with karstic caves and the Haghier Mountains. The mountains rise to 5,000 feet (1,500 m).

Figure 1. Socotra Archipelago

The climate for Socotra is classified in the Köppen climate classification as BWh, meaning dry desert with a mean annual temperature over 18°C (64°F). Annual rainfall is light, and tends to occur during the Northern Hemisphere winter. Generally the higher inland areas receive more rain than the coastal lowlands, due to orographic lift provided by the interior mountains. The monsoon season brings strong winds and high seas.

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Socotra is considered the jewel of biodiversity in the Arabian Sea. The long geological isolation of the Socotra archipelago and its fierce heat and drought has combined to create a unique and spectacular endemic flora. Surveys have revealed that more than a third of the 800 or so plant species of Socotra are found nowhere else. Botanists rank the flora of Socotra among the ten most endangered island flora in the world. The archipelago is a site of global importance for biodiversity conservation and a possible center for ecotourism. One of the most striking of Socotra’s plants is the dragon’s blood tree (Dracaena cinnabari), which is a strange-looking, umbrella-shaped tree. Its red sap was the dragon’s blood of the ancients, sought after as a medicine and a dye, and today used as paint and varnish. Also important in ancient times were Socotra’s various endemic aloes, used medicinally, and for cosmetics. Other endemic plants include the giant succulent tree Dorstenia gigas, Moraceae, the cucumber tree Dendrosicyos socotranus, and the rare Socotran pomegranate, Punica protopunica [2].

Figure 1. The dragon's blood trees

The island group also has a rich bird fauna, including several endemic species of birds, such as the Socotra Starling Onychognathus frater, the Socotra Sunbird Nectarinia balfouri, Socotra Sparrow Passer insularis and Socotra Grosbeak Rhynchostruthus socotranus, many endangered by non-native feral cats. There is even an endemic monotypic genus of birds, the Socotra Warbler Incana incana. As with many isolated island systems, bats are the only mammals native to Socotra. In contrast, the coral reefs of Socotra are diverse, with many endemic species. There is concern that introduced species, such as goats, may present a threat to the native flora of Socotra in the future.
Socotra archipelago is recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as a world natural heritage site in July 2008. The European Union has supported such a move, calling on both UNESCO and International Organizations of Protecting and conserving the Environment to classify the island archipelago among the world environmental heritages [2].
The inhabitants of Socotra are of Arab origin. They follow the Islamic faith and speak Socotri, a Semitic language and Arabic. Their primary occupations have been fishing, animal husbandry, and the cultivation of dates. Almost all inhabitants of Socotra, numbering nearly 50,000, live on the homonymous main island of the archipelago. The principal city, Hadiboh (with a population 8,545 at the census of 2004), the second largest town, Qulansiyah (3,862), and Qād̨ub (929) are all located on the north coast of the island of Socotra. Only a few hundred people live on the islands of ‘Abd-al-Kūrī and Samha; the island of Darsa and the islets of the archipelago are uninhabited [2].
The archipelago forms two districts of the Hadhramout Governorate:
• The district of Hadībū, with a population of 32,285 and a district seat at H̨adībū, consists of the eastern two thirds of the main island of Socotra;
• The district of Qulansiyah wa ‘Abd-al-Kūrī, with a population of 10,557 and a district seat at Qulansiyah, consists of the minor islands (the island of ‘Abd-al-Kūrī chief among them) and the western third of the main island.
Summer Monsoons (very strong winds) made the archipelago inaccessible from June to September each year. However, in July, 1999, a new airport was opened in Socotra as a gateway to the outside world year round, with both Yemen Airways and Felix Airways providing flights once a week to Aden and everyday to Sanaa. All flights stop at Riyan-Mukalla Airport. Socotra Island Airport is located about 12 km west of the main city, H̨adībū, and close to the third largest town in the archipelago, Qād̨ub. Diesel generators make electricity widely available in Socotra, but even in Hadiboh there is no electricity from 5:00 a.m. until 9:00 a.m. daily. An excellent paved road runs along the north shore from Quelensiyah to Hadiboh and then to DiHamri area; and another paved road, from the northern coast to the southern through the Dixam Plateau. Public transport is limited in Socotra; taxis are available only as a kind of rent-a-car service of four-wheel-drive vehicles with drivers.
The Semitic language Socotri, spoken originally only in Socotra, is related to such other rare languages on the Arabian mainland as Mehri, Harsusi, Bathari, Shehri, and Hobyot. Socotri is also spoken by minority populations in the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf states. Some residents raise cattle and goats. The chief export products of the island are dates, ghee, tobacco, and fish. At the end of the 1990s, a United Nations Development Program was launched with the aim of providing a close survey of the island of Socotra [2].
Public transport on Socotra is limited to infrequent minibuses to Qalansiya and to the villages on northeastern coast, car hire usually means hiring a 4WD car with driver. Ships connect the only Socotra port – 5 km east of Hadibu with Yemeni coastal city of Mukalla (Al-Mukalla). According to information from the ports of Mukalla and Hadibu the journey takes 2–3 days and the service is used mostly for cargo. Yemenia and Felix Airways fly from Socotra Airport to Sanaa and Aden via Mukalla (RIY – Riyan Airport).

2. The Objective:
The objective of this study is to use alternative sources of energy to maintain the island’s environment and protection from gaseous pollutants emitted by conventional power plants. This type of source will help in reducing the cost of energy requirements of fuel, regular maintenance and ongoing mechanisms and others that causes financial burden on the government and thus reflects to the citizen. Design and develop wind farm in Socotra Island, coming through the estimating of potential energy from wind, know the amount of energy can be generated from wind turbine and linked to the villages surrounding the site.
3. The study area:
Northern coastal area in Socotra Island – Yemen
4. Duration :
The study is divided into two periods:
1. Monitoring and measuring of the atmospheric elements for the study, wind speed and direction, temperature, air pressure and topography and roughness studies (full one year).
2. Compilation and analysis of data and doing the estimation and writing the final report (3 months).

5. The work plan:
The study is based primarily on hourly data of wind speed and direction as well as some other atmospheric elements such as air temperature, pressure, density and topography. All these data are not available at the site and thus requires data acquisition by installing measuring devices in the site for at least one year in order to adopt and analyze the data and information precisely. The Realistic steps for the implementation of the study will consist of the following points:
1. To locate a suitable site for the study.
2. Installation of automatic meteorological station.
3. To install hourly measuring equipment.
4. Analysis of the data
5. To identify the closed technical data of wind turbine with the available data.
6. To identify a specific area for the design of wind farm based on knowledge of wind speed and direction as will as the topography of the site.
7. To design of the wind farm to determine the location of each turbine and control room, storage and distribution sites in accordance with standards.
8. Using of topographic maps and GIS technique.

6. The output benefits:
1. To protect the island from gaseous pollutants.
2. To reduce the cost of diesel.
3. To fill the gap in the need of growing demand for energy.
4. To provide alternative sources of energy
5. Diversity of energy technology
6. Compilation of a database in the proposed area
7. To encourage investment in energy
8. To encourage reliance on research studies in the implementation of strategic projects
9. To encourage professional interest in scientific research.
10. To encourage local people to use renewable energy
11. To reduce the use of fossil fuels to prevent climate change.

7. Expected Results:
The expected results depend on the quality of the data which will be monitored and analyzed.

8. The budget:
1. Automatic weather station 13,000 US$
2. Installation equipments and wind tower 2,000 US$
3. Software for analysis and design 6,500 US$
4. Transportation and carry the equipments 1500 US$
5. Field visit (monthly) by airplane 400US$ (one year = 400 x 12 = 4800 US$) (from Al-Mukalla city).
6. Observer 400$ per month, one year 400×12 = 4800 US$
7. Topographic maps and satellite images 1200 US$
8. Secretary and stationary 1200 US$
Total amount of the project budget is 35,000 US$
9. References
1. Al-Enbani Ahmed Saeed (2007). History of Socotra Island, Al-Sahabah printing, Al-Ain, UAE (in Arabic language edition)
2. Wikipedia the earth encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socotra#cite_note-Huntingford-4)

Asst. Prof. Dr. Mohammed Ahmed Bawadi
Lecturer of renewable energy and meteorology
Faculty of Environmental Science and Marine Biology
University of Hadhramout for Science and Technology
Al-Mukalla – Hadhramout, Republic of Yemen
Tel: +975-777717561
E-mail: mhbawadi@yahoo.com